Machine for the manufacture of molded building units



Sept. 25, 1951 w. A. GRUENE BERG 2,568,802

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE MOLDED BUILDING UNITS Filed Jill e, 1941' 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

WALTER A. Gaueuzezaq fin A 7' TORNEY Sept. 25, 1951 w. A. GRUENEBERG 0 MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED BUILDING UNITS Filed July 9, 1947 8- Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER A. GRUENEBERQ whim A r ram/5' v w. A. GYRUE'NEBERG Sept. 25, 1951 MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED BUILDING UNITS I Filed July 9, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WALTER A. Gaumusm A TTORNE Y Sept. 25, 195-1 MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED BUILDING UNITS Filed July 9. 1947 w. A. GRUENE-BERG 2,568,802

8 Sheets$heet 5 A TTORNE V P 25, 1951 w. A. GRUENEBERG 2,568,802

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLD ED BUILDING UNITS FiledJuly 9, 1947 8 Sheets- Sheet 6 zzvmvrom. I65 WALTER A. GRuENeaeRq wan/21. 4%

A T TORNEV P 1951 w. A. GRUENEBERG 2,568,802

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED BUILDING UNITS Filed July 9, 1947 r 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 4 wzms 5 I 28 I M25 *7 Ian-l J|||44HH47 159...-

- INVENTOR. WALTER A. GRUENEBERG 14 7' TORNEY Sgpt. 25, 1951 \iv. A. GRUENEBERG 2,568,802

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED BUILDING UNITS Filed Jul 9. 1947 a Sheets-Sheet a TEJE=L4 E-.TEE=.LE EE- i v g ILCEaJ-E I 2445 l I INVENTOR. 239A WALTER A. GRuaNasme. BY

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 MAOHINEFOR THE MANUFACTURE: oi? MOLDED BUILDING UNITS} Walter A. Grueneberg, Saginaw, Mich., assigno'r -to Jackson -& -Church' Company, Saginaw, H

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Claims.

I The present invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of molded building units in the form of building blocks or bricks whichutilize a; binder of cement, lime, or the like, or similar materials, with any desired type of aggregate. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine particularly adapted to the mass production of molded building units to obtain improved and uniform physical properties therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic molding machine which will economically and rapidly manufacture building units by mass production methods, the machine being particularly characterized by a plurality of mold boxes, mounted in a rotatable table, and a plurality of work stations, disposed about said table, 'toperform progressively the necessary operations in the manufacture of molded building unitsas each of said mold boxes is successively indexed from one work station to the next by intermittent rotation of said table.

Other objects are to provide simplified and improved means for supply and controlling the supply of molding mix to the mold boxes, for compressing the said mix within each mold box, so that the pressure maybe regulated and maintained uniform for each unit, for stripping the compressed unit from each mold box and for indexing the table from one work station to the next without, permitting appreciable inertial overshooting of the proper indexed position by the table.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic molding machine of the character described in which each mold box carries a vertically movable plunger which comprises the bottom of the mold box and provides a depending track follower which rides along a track and determines the level of the plunger within the mold box in accordance with the level of the track, the track being upwardly inclined along one portion thereof for the purpose of ejecting formed building units from the mold boxes, and

the track being vertically adjustable at another portion thereof, whereat the mold boxes are filled with molding mix, so as to determine the maximum molding mix capacity of the mold box.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a machine for the automatic molding of building units and which provides an automatic means for effecting an essentially uniform flow of molding mix from a primary supply hopper to afeed drum at the average rate of consumption or mix 'by the machine, and for supply moldin Application July 9, 1947, Serial No. 759,726 V mix from the feed drum the-mold boxes at a constant molding mix pressure head.

' Another'object of the-present invention is to provide a molding machine which is especially adapted for adjustment of interacting parts with respect to each other-to permit ready adjustment of the machine for molding materials of various physical properties.

Other objects of this invention will appear in Q the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. e

In the drawings:

'Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan of-a brick making machine embodying the present invention and showing its relation to the feed hopper, the guards for the pulleybelt and gears being removed. r I I v Fig. 2 is essentially a front elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the feed hopper removed andwith the guards for the pulley belt and gears in place.

Fig. 3 is essentially an enlarged fragmentary side view of the constant level feed mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, portions being broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a reduced section showing the molding mix agitator mechanism and bottom of the agitator drum, taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the broken line 4-4.of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through one of the scraper blades and taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 55 of Fig. 4. 7 I 1 Fig. 6 is a side elevation partially in section showing details of the table drive and compression mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 of Fig. 1, the upper portions of the view being substantially in front elevation with the feed hopper removed, and the large forward gear, pulley, and pulley belt shown in phantom.

Fig. f7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the table and indexing mechanism, taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 9, portions of the table top being broken away to show details of construction. 1 V

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through a por tion of the table indexing mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the Fig. 9 is essentially a fragmentary right end elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2 and showing the track level adjusting mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section through the mold box plunger taken essentially in the direc: tion of the arrows alongjthe line l0-:-..-Hl of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is essentially a fragmentary enlarged elevation partly in section taken in the direction v of the arrows along the line I li I of Fig. 9, portions of the track level adjusting mechanism being sectioned to show details of construction.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary bottom view; of aportion of the compression mechanism; taken. essentially in the direction of the arrows along the line l2l2 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary seetion'throughthe track level adjusting mechanism takenin .the direction of the arrows essentially along the line Hie-i3 oi Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view of the table and dual track level adjusting mechanism of a 12- pocketbrick making machine, showing a modification of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of the dual track level adjusting mechanism adapted for use with a lz-pocket brick making machine as shown schematically in Fig. 14. I v

.=:-'Fig{l 6- is a fragmentary section through the dual track level adjusting mechanism taken essentially in the direction of the arrows along the line l6l6 of Fig. 15. Y r

Before explaining: the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not S ection I .G eneral The presentinvention is hereinafter described by? way oi -example in relation to a brick molding machine embodyin the rpresent invention'and utilizing the process thereof to carry out inautomati'c succession the various steps inthe manufacture'of a structural building unit in the form of-"a brick from a mix of water, lime, and aggregate,- itbeing understood that any other desired shape of building unit, or any other suitable: mix mayebeisi'milarly utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Three principal stages in the operation of the machine are associated respectively with three fixed work stations, comprising a mold box fill :stati'on,-a"compression station, and a stripper station, locatedessentially 120 apart around a rotatable table. .Six mold boxes aresymmetrially mounted in the top of the table and are carried progressively by intermittent rotation of the table from one station to the next. It is to be 'understood, however, that any desired number of stages, Workstations, and mold boxesmay be employed within the scope of the present invention.

.,--Between the intermittent indexing cycles, the

brick, which has been ejected from the mold box in the course of its movement from the compression station to the stripper station, is removed from the machine at the stripper station. The continuous action of the machine may be understood by following a single mold boxrthrough a complete cycle of the three work stages.

At the fill station, an empty mold box is filled with a suitable brick molding mix from a feed or agitator drum, which provides an improved mold box fill mechanism including an automatic fioatmechanism for'insuring a constant head of molding mix within the agitator drum and an essentially continuously uniform how of molding imixfrom the primary feed supply hopper to the agitator drum.

- The rotatable table then indexes twice, permitting the filling of two mold boxes with molding mix and placing a third empty mold box at thefill station by the time the first mold box reaches the compression station, 'whereat the inix within the first mold box is compressedto the desired shape of the brick. Upon continued indexing of the table, the first mold box. is replaced at the compression station by the. second mold box, and a fourth mold box is brought to the fill station. v

A compression plunger mechanism is carried by each mold box within 'the'lower' portion thereof and-provides a depending portion which extends below the mold box and rides along a trackirun-r n-ingjbelow a portion of the table'concjentrically therewith- Asthe first, mold box leaves'the comression "station, the compression plunger is gradually raised within the mold box'by virtue of an'upwardly inclined portion of the track, and the compres ed. brick is ejected out of the top of the mold box to thelevel of the table top, from which position the compressed brick is removed-to storage. or treating kilns. The next indexing movement of the table returns'the first'mold'box in its empty condition to the fill station as at the beginning of the c'yl'c'e. Theother mold boxes continue through the same, cycle, so that a filling operationat thefillstation and a compression operation at the compression station always occur simultaneously. An ejection operation always occurs during "each indexing operation. V In, view-10f the symmetry of construction .and operation of the sixsections of, the table, a multiplicity o'freference numbers is' avoided by using identical reference numerals to denote corresponding parts of the six sections. In the .description' below .asingle section of the table and its appurtenances are followed through a completebrick making .cycle'of the machine. 'It will beunder'stood' that the other five sectionsof'the table arele'ssentially identical in construction and 'operationand follow through consecutively after the manner of the. sectiQndScribed; .'The overall featuresof the machine .mayi b'e seen ingEigs. l and'Z- Fig. 1 shows the, plan view of'vthemolding mix supply hopper 25".which,is supportecLby theangle ironframeworkZB- The agitator drum 2'!. and rotatable table 28,,vvhich 'latt'e'r'two'are supported by the base or frame .29, are seen inj bothlFigs. LandZ.

1 Byjo'peration of thefeed control mechanism desc i e n detail be ow, t m ldi m low .throusht ehop er e d ou t b l t e, feed icon ro js te 3 in: ,fo ard o le dypo ti'ol i v0f;the hofpper 25 and 3, to the for- Ward por onoftheendless elt 34- A bi. 34 d iveniin the. directio .pffi'me arrow" 35,'Fig.'3,'bythebelt drive motor 36 to the bolt I03 clamped at the extremerigfit of; the slot I02, and the position of the gate 33 remains as shown in- Fig.3, the arm 81w'ill be inclined upwardly toward the leverarm'85 and the pivot bolt 88 will be near the top of the slot 89. Accordingly a'slight downward movement of the float 18 will lower the left end of arm 61' and raise the gate 33, thereby increasing the-opening 32. However the float 18-must be raised su'fli ciently to lift the arm 85'the full length of the slot 89 before the gate 33 will begin to close." If on the other hand the bolt I03 is clamped at the extreme leftof the slot I02, and the positidn of the gate 33 remains as shown Fig. 3; the cross arm 81 will be inclined downward to-' ward'the arm '85. In this position the float 18 will necessarily be lower than shown in Fig.3 and the pivot 88 will be at the lower portion of the slot 89. =A-slight upward'movement of the float '18 will raise the arm 85 and cause a correspond- :ingclosure of the gate 33; However the' gate'33 will not begin to open until downwardmovement of the float 18 lowers the arm 85 the full length -ftheslot89. a

I The above two examples of the settingof' the :feed regulating mechanism describe the position 01 the clamping bolt I03 within the 51013102 for twoextreme positions of thefioat 18. In the usual case an intermediate adjustment is required. Beforetightening the clamping bolt I83, the gate 33 is set at the desired extent of opening for average operating conditions, and the float- 18 :is adjusted at the level of the desired average Ihead of mix within the drum 21. Then the slid- :able'pivot bolt 88 is centrally located-within the :slot89 andthe clamping bolt I63 is tightened.

' By the adjustments possible in the feed mechfanism, a predetermined desirable averagerate of :flow of the mix through the forward hopper open- 32' may be achieved with" the position of the float 18 above the mix within-the drum 21 at a desirable andpredetermined average level, which turn is determined-by the desired operating lhead of the mix within the drum 2 1. Small :-movements of the arm 85 to the limit determined fby the slot 89 will not affect the adjustment of ''the arm 81 and the gate 33. The rateof flow rof the mix from the hopper 25 to the belt 34 will remain essentially constant and uniform re- :gardless of minor movements of the float 18 and lever 85. Thus excessive and frequent movement and consequent wear of the mechanism for the fgate 33is avoided.

As each mold box 39 indexes in turnv to "the :mix discharge opening 42 and receives a charge not mix from the drum 21, the'small increment by which the level of the mix and the float 181within the drum 21 is lowered will not be transmitted immediately to the gate 33. By properly adjustin'gthe opening of the gate 33to'permit a continuous flowof mix through the hopper opening 32 at the average rate of intermittentiflowof the mix through the discharge opening 42, and by properly adjusting the pivot 88 centrallywithin the slot 89 when the float 18 is at its desired average level, the machine may operate'continuously under average conditions withoutmovin' the gate'33. If for some reason or other-the level of the float 18 and, the slotted arm 85 risesor lowers sufficiently, the gate 33 will be lowered or m As may bebest seen in Figs. 1 and 6, the t ble to'tig hten or slacken the multiple pulley belt I I4 by the adjusting bolts I I5. The platform, I I2 is pivotally. securedto the motor support .6 by the hinges H1. The lower portions of the adjusting bolts H 5 are pivotally securedto the platform H6 by the pivot pins H8. The support II6 rests on the heavy helmet II9, which in turn is supported by the frame 29. The assembly of the platform II6, helmet H9, and framei29 is held together by the two vertical shafts I26, which are secured to the lower portion of the frame 29 and are capped by the nuts I2I, and by the vertical table shaft I22, which is capped by the large nut I23. 1 The pulley sheave 'I 24, driven by the table drive motor I89, drives the large pulley sheave I25 by meansof the belt II4. Pulley I25 is mounted to rotate freely on shaft I26 without turning the latter, and is operatively connected through a gear chain, not shown, to drive the large gear I21. Shaft I26 is rotatably journaled in the frame 29. Shaft I28 rotates in the two bearings I 29, which are supported by the frame 29, and is driven by the large gear I21. The small gear I34 on the end of shaft I28 is keyed or welded to plate I35, which latter is keyed to plate I36 by the replaceable shear pin I31 for protection of the com-pression mechanism again-st jamming or overloading.- Plate I36 in turn is keyed to shaft I28. V The large gear I38, mounted on and keyed to shaft I26, is driven by the small gear I34, Fig. 1, and provides the crank pin I39 which is coupled to one end of the reciprocating drive shaft I42 by means of the universal joint I43, Fig. '7. Thus reciprocating shaft I42 is operated from the table drive motor I69 through the above described link} age including pulleys I24 and I25, and gears I21, I34, and I 38. I

The opposite end of the reciprocating shaft I42 is secured to the universal joint I44, which. in turn is secured bya pin I45 to the upper half I46 and lower half I41 of an indexing shoe, Figs. 7 and 9. The opposite ends of the shaft I42 are adjustably threaded into their respective univer- I I46 and I41 comprising the indexing shoe provide the upper and lower flange portions I53 and I54, respectively, and are assembled one above the other within theundercut channel groove I55. The groove I55 extends circumferentiallyaround the table'28 and provides the upper undercut annulus I56 for the flange I53 of the upper shoe member I46, and the lower undercut annulus I51 for'the flange I54 of the lower shoe member I41. The upper and lower shoe members I46 and I41 respectively are held together by the pivot pin I45 and by the pivot pin I58, which latter also pivotally secures the indexing dog I59 to the two members I46 and I41.

I The dog I59 provides the spring pilot pin I62 for one end of the spring I63 which presses the dog I59 in indexing position toward the table 28. A similar pilot pin I64 for the other end of the spring .I63 is provided by the plate I65 which is secured to the upper indexing shoe member I46 by. thejplurality of bolts I66. Six' notches I611are evenly spaced around the .drive motor I69 isse'cured to thepl-atfor'm l IIZ by I6 circumference ofjthe table 28 for ratch-ratchet secured to the externaliportionsiof hthefltwpzsides and'back of the hopper Zfi by'meansof themln: rality of adjustment slots 451 andbolts 415., diie wear of the belt 34 by friction against the hopper bottom 43 may be thusiayoidedjand aa'ine adjustment for the drop for-the mixrbetweenzthe hopper'opening 32' and the. be1t..-3'4' is provided. The under side of the upper portion 'ofitherbflt 34; rides on and is supported by the..1p1ate 411, which in turn is supported by uprightiportions of the frame 26, Fig.3. .1

"The belt drive motor 35 drives the' shatt J9 ::to which "it is coupled through the reduction gears 52"a'nd the flexible coupling 53.. The drivelshaft 49 rotates in the two pillow bloc'khearingsfl, which are mounted 'on' the :frame 2.6; and drives the forward beltroller 55. The rear belt' roller 581s secured to and rotatable with theshaft' 51, which rotates within the two hor-izont'ally ade justable pillow block-bearings-fifi, the lattenbeing adjustable by means of the adjusting serews fi'fi to permit regulation of; the tension in the belt. "Details of the automatic iee'ding'n iechanism between the hODDer ZE and agitator drum zl are shown in Figs. 3,4,- and*5.- The vertical shaitlsz,

fdriyen"'b y the motor 38fto-which is=coup1ed through the speed reducer 63 ,"--is -secured to the collar '64 by the pin fifi and rotatesfthe scra'per armslifi, which latter are s'ecured to the collar fil by the plurality of' bolts -fil. The s'craper -blades 4 '31 are adjustably secured to the peripheralipore tions of the arms 65 bythebolts 68 which extend through the slotted boltholes fifl -in the scrapers '3]. "Each arm 6'6 is bent-at 'lz so that the scraper blade 3! secured thereto extends: a ngularly downward towards its" liirection of inotionrand 'also' extends essentially transverse to its direction of counterclockwise rotation within the bottom of the agitator drum 2-1, FigstA' and I The scraper blades 31 eontinuouslyegitate and I move the mix along the bottom oftthe Concurrently, by intermittent .icounterclockwise rotation of the table 28, the moldzb'oxes's39 are successively indexed to" positions .of alignment withthe molding mix discharge .opening Alain the bottom of the-agitator drum 2.1,5."1lhe:ztab1e -28 pauses for a suflicienttime-interyakbetween each indexing movementto permit the moldj box 3-9, which is aligneduwith the-dischargempenin 42, to be completely ,filledwith xmix from -.j he

drum 21. The speed of rotationofthe scrhper blades3 l is timed ,to allow .the blades 31, to bring *two loads of mix to the :discharge :opening-AZ during each filling operation, insuring that? suflic'ient mix is discharged into :thei opentmold box v Other details of the agitatorzdrumiz'lisinclude t'he 'reiiiforc'ed COVe'I" 3 Figs. "1 1211x1 3; l'whichz'parm nd?! it and speed re i i 63.- Met-- a pro isies he gil iltm l ,v is ed o the rima tr th ia y of bo 15? lea ng o the a tat drum" ris p rmit it l n sh u a d 76-- 'he'ie forcing raclget 'l'l, Figs. ZQaI id 6,'is,secure'c i be: l line ta le ame 3 and t a i o dim?! "level bathe mixi the drum'zi s' m nr tamed essentially ooii ia t by ep r i of t e n tant e el eed m ch nis shown in 'lri-f. dld ta ri 3i mpsrat s b 'me Q -i o l8. oa n y s s we bosssfig. w en: ar rir tall a he dpeiid'ilig QS Q JB'LQfiE drum ove; is by'the'boits a; and ext nds forward mm i n qta t h' nsz i int d rec ion of; c n er lo kwise iott d the scraperblades 31 around, the-interioro [the dr m 21 being th sis eil an essentially dog Bi:

7 ppearance in topview-with an arcuate-fedg' confo min t th n p r h j of the 'di i i 21. :as seen dotted outline of the plan view Fig.4. V Near the forward portion of the float leis-the bossB i-w ich s vota lysocured to the we end 10f the; a m. '85 b t e PiVQ "bo t t he upper end o t a m 5 p ovid s t t'BQTfQi the piyotal and; Slidi Br t $1 to one lidbf the cross arm 81 by thesl mg ivbt'boitts'. Iheoth r ndp th a ms sim s 'dfi the-upri h rm 9 Thoaflnsfi d 2' a pimta lyz-moun e i on th sha t -93 at 't i inlarticulate juncture. V opno iteen 0 th Shaft 93 a e r a l mounted in the two bearings 94"p royided-b f tl"i e twobracket -w h ch b toithe op o ite sidqsp the :ralityof-bq ts fiem who .7 tegra-l with the llar a s which is Tkeyed {-to'ithe shaft 93=by th he 9. Fi l i.a d,also p ov j the arcuate slotylQZ for the bolt I03 which: d; instabl secures th ar 1. Q h -b a et f Also at opposfiteends of'the shaft-SISQ just inside =25 vby pressurelcof the segmental gears [04 mating iris-geared.arelationship withthe, ears-racks z" 08 fiBythe :Iinka-ges shown; raising fQr-1OWrl g of -the?.float*18;-pivots the cross armtl about his shaft 93, and-thereby ivots the arm nd :bracket 9:1 secured thereto and rotates theishfafft :93 which'is' keyed to the bra9ket--9 1.- mus-the segmental gearsril'flfi are caused to pivot and drive .the' igeariracks I 08, lowering or raising .the p The relationship betweenthefimqllnt of openl ing ofzthe:gate' 3:3;and the angle- 0f the cross-arm 81? is adjustable vby loosening the clamping bolt lfl3t-to'permitsmovementeof the arm 92 cm; way

ori-the'xother relative to the bracket 9] tto the extent :permitted by the ;arcuate;- slot l 02. .Hpgn againelamping the arm 32 to the bracket 91 by tightiiihfiboltTOit, theamoiin't of opening of the ti'ally cover's" the agitator drtimM kandrsupponts gbeapredetermined and regplateg. Iqor-ex mpleif engagement with the dog I59 during each cycle T in the reciprocating movement of the shaft I42.

Upon each revolution of the large gear I38, the

{reciprocating"shaft I42 pulls the shoe members I46 and I41 circumfer'entially along the grooved-'- undercut channel I 55. The dog I59 is thus pulled f into one of'the indexing notches I61 to index the table 28 one-sixth of' a revolution. Each notch I61 is provided 'with'a 'replaceable hardened wear 1 *The heavy table 28 is prevented from overshoot ing the proper indexed position on each stroke of 1 the reciprocating arm I42 by means of the friction brake shoe I69 which rides within the groove. I55 and-is spring pressed against the side of the table 28 to stop rotation thereof immediately I95 by the plurality 10 of bolts I91. Extending transversely through each plu'n"ger.l95 and projecting at opposite sides therefrom are the plurality of'retaining pin's I98. Each plunger I95 is prevented from falling-:through the bottom opening of its respective. mold box 39 by contact between the outward projecting ends of the pins I98 and theretaining bars I99, which later are fplate' I68 which'receive's the wear from repe'ated i o contacts with the indexing dog I59.

secured to the-underside of the table frame I12 by the bolts 202- and projectpartially across the bottom openingof each mold box 39 as shown in Figs. '1 andi10.- F'" -i The sectional view offFig. 6'is takenthrough two compression 'plungers I95 and-shows the recess 203 in each plunger I95 for the roller 204 which is journaled onthe shaft 205. The shaft upon completionof the indexing stroke of the i .arm I42, Figs. 1 and 6. Many suitable means for subjecting the table 28 to a continual friction drag sufficient to prevent overshooting of the indexed positions may be readily-devised by the skilled technician or engineer.

Accordingly the means employed in the present embodiment are only "briefly described herein and comprise the pivotal leveri-arm-linkage I 13 shown in dotted line, Fig. 1,

' which is pivotally mounted to the frame 29 and couples the brake shoe I69 to the spring I14. Tension inthe spring I14 is transmitted through the pivotal linkage I13 to hold the brake shoe i I69 in continual friction contact against the side of the table 28. The tension in spring I14 is regulated by the adjusting bolt I15 which is adjust- I ably secured to the bracket I16 provided by frame I 29. ,;The friction brake mechanism and the major portion of the groove I55 are normally covered by the guard I11 which is supported from the frame 29, as by the brackets I80, Fig. 2. The guard I11 has been removed in Figs. 6, 7, and 9.

The bulk of the table 28 comprises the heavy .7 frame or casting I12, Fig. '1, which is rotatably mounted on the vertical table shaft I 22, Fig. 6.

The bearings I18 for the table shaft I22 are sup ported on the collar I19 Which is secured to the table frame I12 by the bolts I82. The shaft I22 provides the shoulder "I83, which rests upon a I corresponding'shelf. I84 'of the frame 29, andis secured at its lower endwithin the frame 29 by the heavy nut I85.

Section IV.-Compression mechanism Fig. 6 shows details of the mold boxes 39 and the apparatus which compresses the mix I86 therein, left hand mold box. The replaceable vertical mold box side plates I81 are detachably secured vwithinthe table frame I 12 to line the sides of each mold box'39 and to determine the surface contour of the sides of the finished brick I88,v right hand mold box.

Surrounding each ;,mo1d box 39 and flush with the upper portions of -.theplates I81 are the horizontal wear plates I89 I. which essentiallycover the top of the table frame casting I12 and are secured thereto by the plur ality of screws I92, Fig- 1.

The heavy-helmet I I 9 is directly over the position of the compression station and provides the reinforcing or backing plate I93. Secured to the under face of the backing plate I93 is the abut- 'ment plate I94 which lies across the horizontal wear plates I89 and covers the top of each mold box 39 as it indexes to the compression station.

Vertically movable within each mold box 39 and carried thereby as the table 28 rotates is the compression plunger "I95. A replaceable wear plate 'l96'is secured to the-top portion of each plunger.

205 is secured'at opposite endswithin the shaft hole 206 provided therefor within the sides of the plunger I95. The base of each plunger I95 provides a seat 201- which contacts the pusher plate 208 when the particular plunger I95 indexes at the compression station. The pusher plate 208 is adjustably-spaced from the'hollow cylindrical casting 209-by the shim H2, and the-assembly is aligned and secured together by the centering pin 2I3.

' The casting 2.09 is adapted for vertical sliding motion within the cylindrical slide bearing. 2I4 during the compressionstroke, which motion is effected by the pivotal actionof the rocker arm 2 I5 through the linkagepf the cylindrical roller 2I6. The hardened we'ar plate 2" is secured to the underside of the upper portion of the casting 209 in contact with the top of the roller 2 I6, and a similar hardened wear plate 218 is secured to the rocker arm 2| 5 in'contactwith the lower portion of the roller 2I6.

Assembly of the rocker arm 2I5 on the shaft 222, which later is secured atits opposite ends within the frame 29, is facilitatedby the eccentric pivot hole 223. Play between the shaft 222 and eccentric pivot hole 223 is avoided by means of the bolt 224 which-is threaded into the side of the arm 2 I5 essentiallyperpendicular to the shaft 222 andwhich mayIbe tightenedto force the shaft 222 snugly againstits proper portion of the eccentric pivot hole 223.

The left hand end of the rocker arm 21 5, Fig.6, providesv the cylindricalv socket225 for the cylindrical bearinghead- 226which is held within the socket 225 by the pm 221., The pin 221 extends keyed tothe eccentric cam 229 by. the key 235 and through its compression .cycle.

is driven by gear I38 through the above described gear linkage with table drive motor I09. Operation of cam 229 imparts a pivotal motion ti rocker 215, which in turn drives the plunger I Fig. 6 shows the plunger I95 at thetop of its compression stroke whereby the molding mix I 86 within the mold box.39 is compressed essentially to itsfinal size between the hardened plates-I94 and I96, above and below, and the side plates It is to be noted that the reciprocating, indexing arm I42 and the compression mechanism both complete an operating cycle synchronlsmwith "onerotation'of the shaft I26; Accordingly the crank pin I39 maybereadily. positioned on the gear lfisin-relation to thepositioning of the eccentric cam 2Z9ronthe shaftl261 so that the plunger I95 willibe undergoing its compression stroke while the table 28 isstationary atone of the indexed positions and thereciprocating shaft I42'is :in its return stokeitoreeengage the indexing dqg I59 with one of thenotches- I61. Upon completionof the compression stroke, the reciprocating arm I42 will reach its extreme right-hanclpositionjl ig. 1; the indexing dog I59 {will be in position to engagethe notch I61 upon the next leftward drivingstroke of the arm I42, Fig. 7; and the right hand end'of the rocker arm 2 I Swill be imposition to pivot downward and release the pressure between plate 298 and the plunger seat 2111. Shortly thereafter the indexing mechanism rotatesthe table 28 and indexes the succeeding'mold box 39 to the compression station. Meanwhile the-meld box 39 which has just experienced the compression operation'is carried by rotationpi'the table 28 from the compression station. The plunger *I95slides oil the plate 298 and drops the roller 294 to the lower el 10f theinclinedtrack portion 236,:l ig. 2, which carries the rollers 20 and runs circumferentially underaportion of the table 28.

Section V:.Ejeetion:mecha1 ism and, track adiustm ht As the table 231$ rotated "by operation of the indexing mechanism, the roller 204 which has just left the compress-ion station gradually rises along,

- the track 236 and raisesthe plunger I95 to event- ,ually eject the compressed mix I96 from the mold .box 39 when the roller-294 reacl-iesthe level track portion 131., Figs; 2 and 6 show the compressed brick I89 which has been completely ejected from;

the moldbox 39 andawaits to be removed from the table 28 and conveyed to storageor treating kilns. Upon continued indexing 0, f the table 28, the ol e M li ca r ed t the. s ae s de i .238 whic lead tee t rm d ate le l ac step 239, Figs. 9 andgll. l Th ar ou a venilmbe e p tions r. the trae ex eh ei umte nt e lyvu de t ta 28 andare s hpo t dxheira e 29. .Also s cured o. the r me 9 b bo 2.42 isthe on 7 pla e 2 3 ich ferms eent u t level .traekst n 391 1 h qvides, a. second declil' d track portion 2 which leads to the vertically adjus ab e rack ncrt nlfi and ,fitsvwithinthe slot 346 the e f gs 9 an v .1 Time eac roller:

2.94 in i urn rolls-cont n ous y fIQmthe s h down thec i ed up er. o gu rf e 24 to h e e i all adjus ab e horizon altr k po o 5, wh ch lat r es mme e 'h low he fill StatiQ nd de rm nethe lev l o th P l Il T Within! l t e mo d b x 9. :By, accurat y adju ting h level of the horizontal .track portions 245 the amount of mix that can be received by themold 1 0x3 a t e fi sta io is. ac ura el con ro ed.

Th ad u tab ee eltr ek por n 2 is Ro at on orthe rac -mrtie lii b the-re i Section. vlrsummcry ofiQ eration In operationof-the present brick melting machinefthe molding mix is suitably supplied to hopper 25 irom which it flows through the opening. 32 to the continuously moving belt 34and into the agitatcrd-rum 21. By means of; the adjustable constant level feed mechanism comprising the float I8, the gate 33, gand t'he adjustable linlgage ,therebetween,'thejilow oi mix through theho-pper opening; 32 is maintained essentially uniform" at thera'te of average consumption of the mix byt'he machine The rotating scraper blades 31, driven by motor 38, continuously agitate the mix within the -d. rum 21 and drive it over the discharge outlet 42 thus ins ri qu te fl wwo m th u h h rn le t .8 se ins res a ess n h' h ed he ef. ii Withi the 1 11 2 eb e eihs t e 11 31 1 ith di har e. ou 42 at. en'ee ehhallr l mi h v ressure d rate f flew ahd aehierins the e ired u fo y he densi y o the mixwh eh fills th mel e he fill ta i n: As. th m fiewe ih th .11 14 x39 romhe te dfilmlh L. th de r n thu eau di them x it i he t ed. is mmed ate filled item. th ad a ent m y oper tion. of ther at ns sc aper la es 3 Al o the, cliu tin m ehan sm or the f a permits the constant level of the with n the drum 21 to be adjusted for various types of mix.

From the fill station, the filled mold box 39 is rotated to the compression station by two succestable 28 will stop at its reguired indexed position.

At the compression station, plunger I within the lower portion of a filled mold box 39 slides onto the compression plate 298. Rotation of the table 28 ceases iorgthe duration of the compression stroke. 7

The compression mechanism, including the rocker arm 2 I 5, is'also operated by the table drive 7 motor I99 in timed relationship with the table indexing mechanism as previously described. Immediately after the filled mold box 39 indexes at the compression station, the right hand arm of the rocker-2I15=, Eig, 6, presses upward against the roller 2|6, to'raise plunger'l95 and compress the mix 186 within said mold box 39. Upon-completionof the upward compression strokes-plunger I 95 is lowered by its own weight upon the raising of the left arm of the rocker 2 l 5.

i The compression plate 288, which is forced up-- ward against the plunger seat 201 duringthecompression operation, provide a relatively broad-area of contact with the plunger l95. .A ccordingly'a reasonable tolerance in the alignment of the mold boxes 39 at the compression station is'pr'ovidedand the requirement for expensive precise indexing equipment is avoided.

. Du-ri-ng the downward movement of" the right arm of rocker 2'l'5,'the reciprocating armvI'42! completes its return stroke so as to engage one:

of the notches I81 and be in position tov turn the "table 28 through another increment of rotation and to index another filled mold box 39 at the: compression station and another empty.;.moldl,;

box- 39 at the fill station}r 2;; As; rotation of the table 28 carries the mold.

Finally at theelevated horizontal.

Upon continued roller 204 follows the declined track portions 238 and 244 to the vertically adjustable horizontal trackvportion 245 under the fill station, whereat the mold box 39 indexes under the discharge opening 42 and is filled with mix to thelevel of the upper surface of the horizontal wear plates ,zl89 as at the start of the brick making cycle. The track adjusting mechanism operated from the hand wheel 249 and including the sleeve 245 1 and threaded shaft 241, permits vertical adjustment of the level track portion-245 and correspondingly the level of the top of the mold box plunger I95 in accordance with various types of mix so that the amount of uncompressed mix,

required to fill the mold box 39 at the fill station will be the desired amount for the finished brick.

The above description has carried a single mold box through a complete brick making cycle of the machine. other mold boxes 39 complete the same cycle in ."succe'ssion and that the various work operations on. the mold boxes 39 indexed at the various stations are proceeding simultaneously.

Section VII.-Modified track magmas- 12 mold box machine Figs. 14, 15, and 16 show a modified mechanism for vertically adjusting the track portion under the fill station of a brick machine similar to that described above, by employing a rotatable table 28A having twelve evenly spaced mold boxes 39A rather than six.

In this instance, six pairs of mold boxes 39A are carried through essentially the same cycle of operations described above in connection with the six mold box machine, except that at each station, the work operation is performed simultaneously on a pair of peripherally adjacent mold boxes 39A. The table 28A completes a revolution in the course of six equal increments of rotation, during which a pair of empty mold boxes 39A are first filled with mix, then indexed to a compression station, and then stripped of the compressed bricks and returned to the fill It is to be understood that the '44 stationforrefilling with mix. Each succeeding l pairof mold. boxes 39A completes the cycle similarly. r v jlhe' track'gi'indicatecl generally in .Fig. 14 by thenumeral 236A, performs in thesame manner and has essentially the same various components asthe track described above in connection with the six mold. box machine. However the track 236A under the -fill station provides the 'two separately vertically adjustable level portions ,245A and 2453 which are secured .to and supported by the threaded shafts 241A andH24'lB, respectively; Thus the level of the compression plunger (not shown but corresponding in function to the plunger, I95) within each mold box ..39A at the fill station may be independently adnj'usted so as to compensate for tendencies of one -mold .box 39A to receive more mix from the J agitator drum (not shown but corresponding in function to the agitator drum 2'!) than the, other adjacent mold box 39A. p

As rotationof the table 28A carries the empty mold boxes 39A from the stripper station, the rollers (not shown but corresponding in function to therollers 284) will ride along the declined trackfportion 244A to the vertically adjustable level track portion 245A. The, forward end of the track portion 245A provides the slot 246A forthefdeclined tongue extension 244A. The other end of the track portion 245A provides the slot 248B for the inclined tongue 244Bof the second vertically adjustable level track portion 2453. The end portion of. the track 245A lwhich provides the slot 2463 may be slightly "declined so as to gradually meet the inclined tongue 244B and to avoid, any suddendrop or step.in the track which would otherwise result cvvl'ien the vertically adjustable track portion 245B is positioned substantially below the level of the track 245A. It is to be understood, that the track tongue portions 244A and 2443 within I '-,With' the table 28A atone of the indexedpo- 'sitions, a pair of mold boxes 39A will be at the feed station. O'ne mold box being centrally located over a level portion of thetrack MBA and the other-mold box. 39A being centrally located over a level portion of the track I45B. Accord- Iinglyfthe level of each plunger in each of the mold boxes 39A at the feed station may be inde- 'pende'ntly adjusted to insure that the proper amount of mix will be received by each mold box 39A.

Each of'the two track portions I45A and SB are vertically adjusted similarly to the adjustment of the track portion I45. A short horizontal tubular outer shaft 283A, concentric with an enclosed longer shaft 2633, is keyed to the Worm gear 264A which is in driving relationship with the vertical gear 285A. The vertical gear 285A is keyed to the vertical internally threaded sleeve 248A by the bolts 252A. The outer shaft 263A is turned by operation of the hand wheel 249A thereby rotating the threaded sleeve 248A by means of the gear chain 284A 265A.

The threaded vertical shaft 241A is screwed into the sleeve 248A, so that raising or lowering of the track portion 245A is effected by turning the sleeve 248A. The sleeve 248A is journaled within the portion of the frame 29A which sup- "the cappiri'gbolla r253A"which"issecureq t the .i m ,z tp he bQ 2 44 mf ein the ffraig iefZQA s enna the; sleeve 248A el 'w' t "awslq n t hown i u f ction to ,th s wsmwo mits the 's leeve zAiiA to pgp amp d;

v d dif m x. ,.i a.i m ld bo es x id. ,fi l fi n ans mlud he am din m i f open m he bo t m o a d i e drlu jd iectl ,jabo've 'said "tablea 'nd in alignment with the "mold jf X e ed. a' fisaid fi a iqngia ma yfmix i'eu p er havi d abl mixidis- 'fc 'harge gate opening therefrom into edigi' f eedlo j'd'ruin, means within said feed dturntq maintain constantievel and toinsurea uhiioriii'p ess 'g'e dot the "mix therein during discharge 0 jthe mix'the'refrom into s'aid mold bOXes 'and" "inga float operatively'cou pl ed with saidjmi i ehargegate of said hopper forqpning @nd Io's- :i'ngthere'of in re po se the o o'r jrising f'qf aid float and means to effect'rela fmefitfbetweeh themixi'n said drum @Iid. ""td maintain the letter on the Su 'faoe oft e 2 j The'c'orhbinati'on in a brickmq1dixig"m claimql in elaiin 1 and beingfiuithe tei izeg i n that Said means: to effect 're oyementbetween the mix ahdidiuinji s ggi to' Continuously algitate the mikwithifls'biidfd$5 over said dischargeopenir'ig 'withiiitjie 70 r'atfveiy Coupled with said lev'e'r f md means to "avoid eo'ntmua1'm0yement of said galt'e resppnse'to minofmovei'rients of said heat alfid "eefii risihg a Tliriite'd free movement i 'the'c'o'fipling between saidiever means and "said float.

H 4; The combination in a constant level feegl 'mfecpanism for a prick mo ding acm he as olaihid ih'ciaim 3 'a'rid being fgrthercharactei- "ized in that 'ihe ens are provided to permit 95diistment Qf the opening of said molding ihik "discharge "gate according to the avefg'era'teof f ooneizmption Qi mix by said brick "moldi'rig ma.- c'hinegu e eomp ismg-ap adjustable; ooiibling'been said -gat'e;ar 1-saii;l operating lever mmis therefor for adjus'ting the setting of said g'z'it e fi-lati ve to the setti'ri g "of siid 'obefati ng lever mechanism for a brick molding maehine as ft'rid meansere piio'vided forcdntiiiuoixsly rotating the miz; Within'said 'feed'di'iim over said fe'ed *dru'm dischar opening aria including motordriven scrapers po'sit iohed below said float and rotated "Within said feed dium.

Name Date 686,370 Volkrsen; -Nov. 12,1901 1,872,520 Stucky Aug. '16, 1932 1,925,416 Stuckey Sept. 5, 1933 2,408,221 Michel Oct. 1, 1946 within "sa d feed drum and Comprising a float 

